Collaboration

Tiles collaborate to create patterns.
I’m still new to this thing called “collaboration”. Well, not exactly new, because I certainly know what it means. But I am certainly inexperienced when it comes to creating opportunities to grow my business by collaborating with interesting and interested people.

I already told you that I am taking an online business course that has been turning upside down my way of thinking about work, the creation of value and money. A couple of weeks ago, our homework was to think about our team. It included people I could hire as help, as consultants. It included apps that could automate many of my tasks and make my life easier. But included what I found to be the most unchartered territory of all, for me at least: people I could partner up for specific projects in a mutually beneficial relationship.

This may sound obvious to you, my dear reader. To me, however, it was pure gold. Not that I could see it right away, because these things take time to sink in for me.

A few days later, however, this important lesson came to mind when a client requested a job that is partly outside of my abilities. My client rocks, because he could certainly see the potential before I did. A few days later, I saw it too: a little cartoon light bulb became bright just above my head, when I finally identified the perfect expert to partner up for this project.

Before I knew it, I “enrolled” my first teammate, and together we will be able to create more value for the client than if we were to be working alone. A bit like the pattern above, where the overall visual impression is more than the mere sum of its parts.

How about you? How has collaboration helped you pursue your goals? Click here to add your voice to the discussion.

(Also, check out the new Embroidery Club, starting September 2013. Either a beginner or a seasoned stitcher, you will love seeing your creations coming to life!)